Content Guidelines for SVFPA Website Submitted Articles

Submitted Articles must be:

1.  Educational
2.  Not advertisements or solicitations

Educational: The primary content should be educational in nature. To that end, the author should articulate the specific benefit or learning that the reader should receive from reading the article.  This "stated benefit" may not be included in the article, but would help the author to hone the content, and for the reviewer to ensure that the benefit is met.

It would be helpful to explain a concept, discuss some news (i.e. tax change) or strategy, even explain a product (i.e. variable annuity) but be careful if it's a product that one sells. If so, try to minimize bias and include notice if it is a product that the author sells.

The educational content should be something that our members would not get in the usual format, e.g., with the FPA newsletter, Journal of Financial Planning, or a chapter meeting topic.

Market or financial forecasts should not be used in the content for the site.

Promotions or articles about FPA-SV events should be separate from educational articles.  One is "news" and one is "education". 

Review: The content of submitted articles is reviewed by the Communications team.  If the author is referenced from an FPA member, that FPA member should do an initial review to ensure that requirements are met, prior to sending it on to the Communications team.

Length: The article should be no more than the equivalent of two typewritten pages.

Submission:   Word or text only documents should be submitted.  Images should be in standard jpeg, gif or png formats.  (not pdf, and certainly no Flash)

Author bio:  If included, no more than a brief paragraph, may have a link to author's website and/or author's e-mail address.  Recommend that it include credentials (i.e. CFP, CPA, etc) and, if the article discusses either products the author sells, or securities the author has a position in, such things should be mentioned.  (I.e. an article about, say, pharmacy stocks should note if the author has a position in any of the securities he mentions.  Generalities, however, do not need such disclosure - i.e. if no specific stock is mentioned but the general sector is, there's no need for a disclaimer)

Tags:  For identification (i.e. who is the article's intended audience, kinds of products mentioned, topic area, etc) -- makes it very easy to easily find articles about "taxes" or about "estate plans".

Some Topic ideas:

• Different compensation systems (fee-only, fee-based, commissions, insurance, etc
• Professional designations - what they mean, stand for, who issues them, what it takes to get them.  (CFP, CLU, CFA, CPA, etc.)

This document was prepared by Cynthia Riley, David Meyers and Ariadne Horstman